STRONG AND VERSATILE: These strips are great for hanging pictures with frames of a maximum of 45 cm x 60 cm, holding a maximum of 5.4 kg. Ideal for different types of solid surfaces, painted, tiled, metal or wood Step 4: Remove the protective liners that are now facing away from the frame and position your frame where you want it on the wall. I was recently introduced to 3M Command strips and after a trial I am a fan! It has always seemed to me rather primitive in this technological age to still “bang a nail in the wall” to hang a picture. So far I have re-hung about 10 pictures – mostly light, the heaviest is 2kgs – and they seem pretty firmly fixed to the wall (I keep testing them to make sure). The rear of the picture is generally a smooth surface, often hardboard and my internal walls are emulsioned and smooth (the house is in UK and only 22 years old). The house doesn’t suffer any extremes of heat/cold & humidity. I have been applying the strips to the picture and leaving them overnight to “prove”. Like Andrew, I do not remove the picture when first hung (as specified in the 3M instructions) but hold it firmly in place with moderate pressure and count slowly to 60. So far so good. What I really wanted to find out is what is the longest period anyone has had a picture on the wall for? Correspondents are very keen to tell their stories of failure and then call the product garbage but I would also hate to find out that the pictures all fall off the wall in 2 years time! Reply Not pressing firmly for at least 30 seconds when hanging. Putting pressure on the strips helps them adhere completely. Don’t skip this step.

The last downside is that you can only use Command strips once. Command designs their pull-tab release mechanism to ensure there is zero wall damage. When you pull the strip to take it off the wall, it stretches out and becomes unusable. Unfortunately, you can’t use them more than once, but paying a little extra for more strips beats the time it takes to patch holes. What Are the Most Common Complaints? Putting the strips in the wrong spots on the frame. Follow these placement instructions that I covered earlier. In the previous section, I highlighted Command’s three most popular products (Small, Medium, and Large strips), but they sell many other picture hanging strips and hooks with various weight limits.

Additionally, as you’ll see in the next section, Command strips could detach from the wall and ruin your frame, art, or photo. If you follow the instructions, the chances of this happening are slim, but it certainly does happen. Press the frame firmly against the wall for at least 30 seconds. Put pressure on the areas where the strips are so they adhere securely to the wall. This will only occur if you exceed the weight limits and don’t use enough strips, or you don’t allow enough time for them to adhere to the wall before adding the weight of the picture.

My advice — if you’re hanging something really expensive or invaluable, use a nail or double up on Command strips. Alternatives to Command Strips However, when that moment finally comes when you have to take down a picture, buying wall putty, sanding, painting, and being left with a less than perfect wall is a much higher price than the cost of these strips. Pulling the frame off the wall the wrong way. If you pull the frame straight off the wall, you risk damaging it. To remove the strips from the wall, slowly stretch the pull tab straight down about 12 inches. It will release from the wall. Do not pull the tab straight towards you; doing so could damage your wall.If you don’t get the frame level on the first try, you can adjust where each side of the Velcro meets to get it perfectly level later. On the flip side, if you use Command strips, you won’t have to pay for wall putty and paint when you eventually have to patch up holes. How to Use Command Picture Hanging Strips The most common use for these picture hanging strips is, you guessed it, to hang heavy (or light) framed pictures to your walls and other surfaces without damaging them with nails and anchors.

Pulling the strips off the wall the wrong way. Pull the tab straight down until the strip releases from the wall. If you try to rip it straight off, the paint will come with it. If you follow the instructions carefully, Command strips are highly effective. If you cut corners and don’t follow the instructions, you’ll have issues. Here are the most common mistakes people make when using Command strips: I totally understand how frustrating and upsetting it could be to have a pricey piece of art or sentimental photo come crashing to the floor. In this in-depth review of Command™ Picture Hanging Strips, you’ll learn exactly how to use them (step-by-step with pictures), common mistakes when using them, which surfaces they work on, the different sizes available, the most significant downsides, and common consumer complaints. If you’re using three pairs, place onehorizontally in the center of the top frame and two on the top of the sides.

The Small Picture Hanging Strips can hold up to 1 pound per pair. The Mediums hold 3 pounds per pair, and the Larges hold 4 pounds per pair. This period allows the adhesive to fully adhere to the wall before adding the weight and resistance of the frame. This video does a great job summarizing the process of hanging pictures that I just described. Common Mistakes When Using Command Strips Command strips make removing pictures from the wall extremely easy. To remove the frame, all you do is take the bottom corners of the frame and slowly pull it off the wall. The pairs of strips attached by Velcro will easily come apart. They come in 3 different sizes (small, medium, and large), and each size has its own weight limits.